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Burlington Mayor Touts Plastic-to-Diesel Fuel Conversion Operation as 'Game Changer'
City Council approves site control agreement for Great River Fuels Inc. to launch project at former Dresser-Rand site.
Published on Feb. 28, 2026
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Burlington Mayor Jon Billups said a plastic-to-diesel fuel conversion operation expected to launch in the city could prove to be a 'game changer', not just for the community but for nationwide recycling efforts. The City Council voted to approve a site control agreement with Great River Fuels Inc. to begin operations at the former Dresser-Rand site, with plans to eventually expand to the former GE/ABB production facility.
Why it matters
This project represents a potential breakthrough in plastic waste recycling, converting non-recyclable plastics into usable diesel fuel. If successful, it could serve as a model for other communities and have a significant impact on nationwide recycling efforts.
The details
Great River Fuels Inc. CEO Jonathan Hazell presented the proposal to the City Council, requesting site control for the project's first phase. Hazell said the company intends to employ Keepro technology to convert plastic waste into fuel, a process that produces no emissions and compares to cooking soup in a slow cooker, with plastics melted into a soup-like substance before additives are introduced to create diesel fuel.
- On February 19, 2026, the Burlington City Council voted to approve the site control agreement with Great River Fuels Inc.
- Great River Fuels Inc. plans to initially launch operations at the former Dresser-Rand site near Central Avenue and Washington Street, and then expand to the former GE/ABB production facility on Agency Street.
The players
Jon Billups
The mayor of Burlington, Iowa, who expressed optimism about the potential impact of the plastic-to-diesel fuel conversion operation.
Great River Fuels Inc.
A company that plans to launch a plastic-to-diesel fuel conversion operation in Burlington, using Keepro technology to convert non-recyclable plastics into usable diesel fuel.
Jonathan Hazell
The CEO of Great River Fuels Inc., who presented the proposal to the Burlington City Council and requested site control for the project's first phase.
What they’re saying
“This project represents a potential breakthrough in plastic waste recycling, converting non-recyclable plastics into usable diesel fuel. If successful, it could serve as a model for other communities and have a significant impact on nationwide recycling efforts.”
— Jon Billups, Mayor of Burlington (kbur.com)
“Once production is established, the company intends to expand operations to the former GE/ABB production facility on Agency Street.”
— Jonathan Hazell, CEO of Great River Fuels Inc. (kbur.com)
What’s next
Great River Fuels Inc. plans to begin operations at the former Dresser-Rand site in the coming months, with the goal of eventually expanding to the former GE/ABB production facility.
The takeaway
This plastic-to-diesel fuel conversion project in Burlington represents a promising solution to the growing problem of plastic waste, with the potential to serve as a model for other communities and significantly impact nationwide recycling efforts if successful.
